spolia opima

[spoh-lee-uh oh-pahy-muh, -pee-; Latin spaw-li-ah aw-pee-mah]

plural noun

(in ancient Rome) the arms taken by a victorious general from the leader of a defeated army.

Origin of spolia opima

From the Latin word spolia opīma rich spoils

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018